The controversial gas project covers a significant part of the Kugapakori-Nahua-Nanti reserve, where several uncontacted tribes are known to live.

According to Peru’s leading Amazon Indian organization, AIDESEP, any new exploration in the reserve would breach conditions set by the Inter-American Development Bank, which funded the development of Camisea.

Both Peruvian and international laws state that indigenous people should be consulted about projects affecting their lands. In the case of uncontacted tribes, this consultation is impossible.

Survival is calling for all oil and gas exploration on uncontacted tribes’ land to cease immediately.

Survival’s Director, Stephen Corry, said today, ‘This is an unbelievably cynical move by the outgoing government. If it keeps up this kind of work, the Indian Affairs Department will have no Indians to look after. Opening up uncontacted tribes’ reserves will almost certainly lead to their extinction and if the new administration has any commitment to protecting tribal peoples, it will abandon the plan.’